Europan 15: Graz

47Nord15Ost is a project of new urban planning strategies for the industrial area of Puchstrasse in Graz, Austria. Aims to give a series of guidelines that allow the integration of urban life within the marked industrial character of the area, which is nowadays included in the current urban grid. In addition, the project studies a new industrial building prototype based on the new urban rules that allow wide flexibility in three directions, being able to host a wide variety of production activities. This maximum flexibility is achieved by moving all vertical connection cores and all service blocks to the facade, leaving a totally free grid in the inside.

The project proposes the transition from the traditional horizontal system of the factories, to a vertical factory system, which allows a greater space to be freed at ground level and therefore allows new spaces and functions for the neighborhood. Density increases efficiently by creating synergies between established and future companies, also evolving towards a circular economy model. A series of small specific actions make the liberated surface accessible, attractive and safe for the public, in order to attract citizens who can experience the culture of the three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle), so that they participate together, with all the actors that work for the development of the city. To do this, we introduce new urban rules; simple, open and evolutive, that can be adapted to the needs of interested parties; Resilient rules that can actively respond to any economic, social, political and climatic variation. With the aim of reviving that part of the city, creating a new identity that allows a shared, mature and democratic way of life.